Bush Coondoo, Northern Coondoo
Pouteria xerocarpa

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 6-15 m high and spreads 5-10 m wide. The young growth has dark brown hairs. The leaves are 9-15 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. They are sword shaped and stiff. They are shiny above and dull and hairy underneath. They taper to the base. The flowers are 0.6 cm long and hairy. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are berries 1.5-2 cm long by 1-1.3 cm wide. They are blackish with white hairs in a sunken area at the tip. There are 2-5 seeds. They are 1.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They are brown and shiny.

There are about 100 Planchonella species. They are mostly in Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows in rainforest at moderate altitudes. It needs well drained soil. It can tolerate light frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed.

Plants are slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Planchonella xerocarpa (F. Muell. ex Benth.) H.J. Lam.; Sideroxylon xerocarpum;